Purpose: This lesson will give students an introduction to the rock cycle Objectives: Students will demonstrate understanding of the three different types of rocks – igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Background Information: The rock cycle is similar to the water cycle. During this process, rocks are continually developing and changing. Sometimes magma, which lies below the earth’s surface, can be forced above ground by volcanic activity. Once above the surface this material is called lava. After the volcanic eruption, the lava cools. Other magma will remain below the surface and cool there. As the lava or magma cools, it becomes igneous rock. Uplifting will eventually bring the underground igneous rock to the surface. Once on the earth’s surface, these rocks erode due to wind or water. Pieces of these igneous rocks are deposited in various places by wind or water. As these pieces settle and mix with other sediments, they begin to harden and form layers. Pressure from new layers on top of them gradually turn them into sedimentary rocks. The third type of rocks, metamorphic rocks, are formed when either igneous or sedimentary rocks are changed either by heat or pressure. This cycle is an ongoing part of nature. Procedure: I. Introduction - Investigation: Students will observe how rocks change using a demonstration with crayons. 1) Obtain two squares of wax paper, a small pencil sharpener, and four crayons the same color as your lab partner. The crayons are your parent rock material and the pencil sharpener is your disintegration weathering agent. Shave each crayon color into a small pile with your partner's on the waxed paper. Keep each color separate. 2) EROSION and SEDIMENTATION - You are now the erosion force. Carefully "erode" (move) one color of your "rock fragments" and put them in the center of a piece of aluminum foil making an 8 cm x 8 cm layer of "sediment." Now the other partner should add a second color of "rock fragments" to the "sediment." Continue adding the other "rock fragments" to the "sediment."4. When finished fold each side of the foil over the "rock fragments." Allow for a 1 cm distance between the shavings and each fold as room for expansion. 3). COMPACTION, and CEMENTATION - Place your "rock fragment" sandwich under a few book. Mildly compress your package by carefully applying pressure with your hand. Carefully open your package and describe the layers. 4). METAMORPHISM - Replace the fragments and rewrap your package. Your rocks are now going to be buried deep within the earth or be subjected to mountain building when you add as much pressure as you can by standing with one foot on your package and applying all of your body weight to it. You may even carefully stomp on it. Remove your newly formed "metamorphic rock." Open the foil and break your rocks open. Examine them carefully, noting what happened to the thickness, fragment shape and the texture of the surface against the foil. 5 ). IGNEOUS ROCK FORMATION - Place your "metamorphic rocks" in pyrex dish. Carefully heat to melting over a hot plate. If it starts to smoke, you are heating it too strongly. Activity - Lab: Gizmo: On-line lab on the rock cycle through simulation. Partners demonstrate understanding as they perform this on-line lab. http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cUser.dspLoginJoin - Interactive rock cycle: Students will use this site to develop further understanding of the three types of rocks in the rock cycle. It is an interactive rock cycle that demonstrates each rock type in the cycle http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/
Conclusion: Students will listen and sing along to a YouTube movie clip :
Assessment: Students will create a comic strip of a rock going through the rock cycle – sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. They will use Make believe printable comic strip site to create and print their cartoon. http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Printables/
Grade level/Subject: 6/Science
Purpose: This lesson will give students an introduction to the rock cycle
Objectives: Students will demonstrate understanding of the three different types of rocks – igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Background Information: The rock cycle is similar to the water cycle. During this process, rocks are continually developing and changing. Sometimes magma, which lies below the earth’s surface, can be forced above ground by volcanic
activity. Once above the surface this material is called lava. After the volcanic eruption, the lava cools. Other magma will remain below the surface and cool there. As the lava or magma cools, it becomes igneous rock. Uplifting will eventually bring the underground igneous rock to the surface.
Once on the earth’s surface, these rocks erode due to wind or water. Pieces of these igneous rocks are deposited in various places by wind or water. As these pieces settle and mix with other sediments, they begin to harden and form layers. Pressure from new layers on top of them gradually turn them
into sedimentary rocks.
The third type of rocks, metamorphic rocks, are formed when either igneous or sedimentary rocks are changed either by heat or pressure. This cycle is an ongoing part of nature.
Procedure:
I. Introduction - Investigation: Students will observe how rocks change using a demonstration with crayons.
1) Obtain two squares of wax paper, a small pencil sharpener, and four crayons the same color as your lab partner. The crayons are your parent rock material and the pencil sharpener is your disintegration weathering agent. Shave each crayon color into a small pile with your partner's on the waxed paper. Keep each color separate.
2) EROSION and SEDIMENTATION - You are now the erosion force. Carefully "erode" (move) one color of your "rock fragments" and put them in the center of a piece of aluminum foil making an 8 cm x 8 cm layer of "sediment." Now the other partner should add a second color of "rock fragments" to the "sediment." Continue adding the other "rock fragments" to the "sediment."4. When finished fold each side of the foil over the "rock fragments." Allow for a 1 cm distance between the shavings and each fold as room for expansion.
3). COMPACTION, and CEMENTATION - Place your "rock fragment" sandwich under a few book. Mildly compress your package by carefully applying pressure with your hand. Carefully open your package and describe the layers.
4). METAMORPHISM - Replace the fragments and rewrap your package. Your rocks are now going to be buried deep within the earth or be subjected to mountain building when you add as much pressure as you can by standing with one foot on your package and applying all of your body weight to it. You may even carefully stomp on it. Remove your newly formed "metamorphic rock." Open the foil and break your rocks open. Examine them carefully, noting what happened to the thickness, fragment shape and the texture of the surface against the foil.
5 ). IGNEOUS ROCK FORMATION - Place your "metamorphic rocks" in pyrex dish. Carefully heat to melting over a hot plate. If it starts to smoke, you are heating it too strongly.
Activity - Lab: Gizmo: On-line lab on the rock cycle through simulation. Partners demonstrate understanding as they perform this on-line lab. http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cUser.dspLoginJoin
- Interactive rock cycle: Students will use this site to develop further understanding of the three types of rocks in the rock cycle. It is an interactive rock cycle that demonstrates each rock type in the cycle
http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/
Conclusion: Students will listen and sing along to a YouTube movie clip :
BILL NYE MUSIC VIDEO: ROCKS ROCK HARDER
Assessment: Students will create a comic strip of a rock going through the rock cycle – sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. They will use Make believe printable comic strip site to create and print their cartoon. http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Printables/